Creating a Creating a Schoolyard Habitat Schoolyard Habitat

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Cindy BrewerCindy Brewer

The Schoolyard Habitat The Schoolyard Habitat Movement:Movement:

The National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitats The National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitats Program assists schools, teachers, students and Program assists schools, teachers, students and community members in the creation and restoration of community members in the creation and restoration of wildlife habitat and in the use of school grounds as wildlife habitat and in the use of school grounds as learning sites for wildlife conservation and learning sites for wildlife conservation and interdisciplinary learning.interdisciplinary learning.

“ “Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most profound. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most profound. How else to describe the growing schoolyard education How else to describe the growing schoolyard education movement that has at its heart one fundamental axiom: movement that has at its heart one fundamental axiom: Take those kids outside!”Take those kids outside!”

----Stephen R. Coffee, Executive Director of Arlingtonians for a Clean Stephen R. Coffee, Executive Director of Arlingtonians for a Clean

EnvironmentEnvironment

Reasons We Should Restore Reasons We Should Restore Natural Habitats To Children:Natural Habitats To Children:

The Bio-Psychological ReasonsThe Bio-Psychological Reasons -relieves stress-relieves stress -relaxation-relaxation -enjoyment-enjoyment

The Environmental ReasonsThe Environmental Reasons --to know is to careto know is to care - childhood experiences tend to produce adult- childhood experiences tend to produce adult activismactivism

The Developmental ReasonsThe Developmental Reasons --children are multisensory, physical beingschildren are multisensory, physical beings - fosters social-emotional development and creativity- fosters social-emotional development and creativity

Environmental Studies Environmental Studies Goals:Goals: Awareness and KnowledgeAwareness and Knowledge-- should provide should provide

children with an opportunity to develop a basic understanding children with an opportunity to develop a basic understanding of the problems surrounding the natural environment.of the problems surrounding the natural environment.

CaringCaring-- should help children develop the attitude for the should help children develop the attitude for the use and quality of the environment, and give them the feeling use and quality of the environment, and give them the feeling that they have a personal investment in their natural that they have a personal investment in their natural surroundings.surroundings.

ActionAction-- should provide children with the opportunity to do should provide children with the opportunity to do something themselves and with others about improving the something themselves and with others about improving the environment and harming it no further.environment and harming it no further.

Human- Environment Human- Environment Interaction:Interaction:

Enduring public IssuesEnduring public Issues::

How can humans How can humans best live with the best live with the natural environment?natural environment?

North America North America already overwhelmed already overwhelmed many ecosystems.many ecosystems.

Alabama Course of Study Objectives to be Alabama Course of Study Objectives to be used during the year for planning, used during the year for planning,

implementing and maintaining a Schoolyard implementing and maintaining a Schoolyard Habitat:Habitat:

Social Studies: (Kindergarten)Social Studies: (Kindergarten) ACOS#7ACOS#7- Identify representations of Earth using technology, - Identify representations of Earth using technology,

maps, and globes.maps, and globes. Social Studies: (First Grade)Social Studies: (First Grade) ACOS#7ACOS#7- Identify ways to take personal action to protect the - Identify ways to take personal action to protect the

environment.environment. Science: (Kindergarten)Science: (Kindergarten) ACOS#6- ACOS#6- Compare size, shape, structure, and basic needs of Compare size, shape, structure, and basic needs of

living things.living things. ACOS#7- ACOS#7- Classify objects using the five senses. Classify objects using the five senses. ACOS#18ACOS#18- Compare size, shape and structure of living things. - Compare size, shape and structure of living things. ACOS#19ACOS#19- Describe how offspring resemble parents.- Describe how offspring resemble parents. ACOS# 22ACOS# 22- Describe a variety of habitats.- Describe a variety of habitats. ACOS# 23ACOS# 23- Describe natural homes of animals.- Describe natural homes of animals. ACOS# 21ACOS# 21- Describe ways in which living things react to changing - Describe ways in which living things react to changing

conditions conditions

Objectives cont.Objectives cont. Science: (First Grade)Science: (First Grade) ACOS#4-ACOS#4- Describe survival traits of living things, including Describe survival traits of living things, including

color, shape, size, texture, and covering.color, shape, size, texture, and covering. Math: (Kindergarten)Math: (Kindergarten) ACOS#10- ACOS#10- Complete data displays such as single-loop Venn Complete data displays such as single-loop Venn

diagrams and yes/no charts using real objects, concrete diagrams and yes/no charts using real objects, concrete representations, or pictorial representations.representations, or pictorial representations.

Math: (First Grade)Math: (First Grade) ACOS#10ACOS#10-Compare objects according to length, weight, and -Compare objects according to length, weight, and

capacity.capacity. English: (Kindergarten)English: (Kindergarten) ACOSACOS##12-12-Exhibit an awareness that information may be Exhibit an awareness that information may be

obtained from a variety of sources.obtained from a variety of sources. ACOS#19ACOS#19-Use writing skills.-Use writing skills. English: (First Grade)English: (First Grade) ACOS#15-ACOS#15-Use appropriate sources for obtaining information.Use appropriate sources for obtaining information.

Four Elements:Four Elements: FoodFood--native vegetation or feedersnative vegetation or feeders WaterWater-- ponds or birdbaths ponds or birdbaths CoverCover--plant life ranging in size, height and plant life ranging in size, height and

densitydensity Places to Raise Young-Places to Raise Young- dense vegetation, dense vegetation,

water, bird houses, bat boxeswater, bird houses, bat boxes

                                       

Implementation:Implementation: Starting the ProcessStarting the Process

Gathering InformationGathering Information

Assembling the Assembling the ElementsElements

Ensuring Continued Ensuring Continued SuccessSuccess

Websites:Websites:www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/

http://http://www.epa.gov/kids/plants.htmwww.epa.gov/kids/plants.htm

Pictures of Schoolyard Sites:Pictures of Schoolyard Sites:

Montessori School of HuntsvilleMontessori School of Huntsville

Bankston Elementary SchoolBankston Elementary School Cape Elementary SchoolCape Elementary School

Baker ElementaryBaker Elementary

Certification:Certification: Upon completion, your school will be certified as an official Upon completion, your school will be certified as an official

Schoolyard Habitats site by the National Wildlife Federation!Schoolyard Habitats site by the National Wildlife Federation!

                                   

          

Not a pretty site!Not a pretty site!

Wildlife we could attract:Wildlife we could attract:

Final Thought:Final Thought: